The Greene Central Rams (28-1) took the opening game of the 2A Baseball State Championships over the Burns Bulldogs (31-2) Friday night. A hard fought 2-0 win to go along with a dominant pitching performance helped gain momentum for the Rams in what turned into a pitchers duel.

Both sides got three quick outs to start things off in the first innings. That continued into the second inning where back-to-back 5-3 groundouts quickly put the Rams in a two-out situation. Colby Putman recorded the last out with a strikeout to head to the bottom of the second scoreless. Bulldogs couldn’t get anything as we headed to the third.

The Rams found themselves in scoring position once again in the top of the third, but a 6-4-3 double play kept them off the scoreboard in this defensive battle. In the bottom of third the Bulldogs got within striking distance by loading the bases with two outs but a 6-3 play from the Rams kept things scoreless.

The scoring drought in this one was finally broken up in the top of the fourth when Elijah Monroe reached on fielder choice that plated a runner from second on a throwing error to make it 1-0 Greene Central.

The Rams and Bulldogs couldn’t get anything going in the fifth as we headed to the sixth. In the bottom of the sixth the Bulldogs had the tying run at second, but Austin Hardy got a big-time strikeout to end the inning and leave runners stranded heading to the seventh with Greene Central still leading 1-0.

Putnam started off the seventh inning striking out the first two batters to start things off. The Rams then caught momentum and extended their lead with a RBI single from Braden Burress to make it 2-0. The Bulldogs managed to control the damage and keep it 2-0 heading into the bottom of the innings. The Bulldogs put runners on the bases but a strikeout and a double play from the Rams sealed the win for Greene Central.

Greene Central will look to finish things off tomorrow at 11 a.m. and win the 2A State Championship. As for the Bulldogs they will look to keep their title defense alive and force a potential game three.

Source: highschoolot.com